?^ 


A^^ 


t 


SS^^^^-^-i 


I! 


\ 


THE  ORIGIN,  THE  GENERAL  CHARACTER, 

AND  THE 

PRESEJ^T  SITUATION 

OF  THE 

PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH, 

IN  THE 

FNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 


THE  ORIGIN,  THE  GENERAL  CHARACTER, 

AND  THE 

PRESEJS^T  SITUJiTIOJ^ 

OF  THE 

PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH, 

IN  THE 

UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA— 

A  SERMON, 

J^EAGHED  IN  ST.  JAMES's  CHURCH,    IN  THE   CITY  OF   PHILADEL- 
PHIA, ON  WEDNESDAY,  MAY    18TH,  A.  D.    1814. 

On  the  occasion  of  the  opening  of  the  General  Convention  of  the  said  Clmrcli, 

AND   OF  THE   CONSECRATION   OF 

THE  RIGHT  REV.  BISHOP  MOORE, 

OF   VIRGINIA. 

Br  JOHJ\^  HEJ^TRF  IIOBART,  B.  B. 

ASSISTANT  BISHOP  OF  THE  PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL   fHrRCH 
IN  THE  STATE  OF   NEW-YORK. 

PUBLISHED  BY  DESIRE  OF  THE  CONVENTION- 
PHILADELPHIA; 
I'KINTRD  FORBKADFOHD  AND  lYSKERl*. 

nv  J.  MAXWELr. 

1814. 

.   .  _,. .£n^^.^ 


THE  ORIGIN,  &c. 

PSALM  cxxii.  7. 

Peace  be  whhm  thy  walls  and  plenteousness  within  thy  palaces. 

The  prayer  of  the  devout  Israelite,  for  that 
holy  city  where  God  manifested  his  glory  and  dispen- 
sed his  blessing  in  the  institutions  and  ordinances  of  the 
law  established  by  his  servant  Moses,  should  be  the 
more  ardent  prayer  of  the  Christian  for  that  New  Jeru- 
salem, that  city  of  the  living  God,  where  he  manifests 
his  glory  and  dispenses  his  grace  in  his  Son  Jesus 
Christ. 

"  Pray  for  the  peace  of  Jerusalem;  they  shall  pros- 
per that  love  thee.  Peace  be  within  thy  walls  and  plen- 
teousness within  thy  palaces.  For  my  brethren  and 
companions'  sake  I  will  now  say,  Peace  be  within 
thee.  Because  of  the  house  of  the  Lord  our  God,  I  will 
seek  thy  good." 

The  sentiment,  contained  in  this  prayer,  should 
more  deeply  interest  us,  my  brethren,  on  occasions 
when  the  promotion  of  the  peace  and  the  prosperity  of 
our  Zion  is  the  object  of  the  coun^ls  of  her  highest 
ecclesiastical  assenibly. 


The  absence  through  indisposition  of  the  Right 
Rcvd.  person,  who  was  to  have  addressed  you,  im- 
posed upon  me  the  duty  of  preparing,  at  a  very  short 
notice,  to  supply  his  place.  This  circumstance,  1  trust, 
will  entitle  me  to  your  indulgence,  should  the  senti- 
ments delivered  fall  short  of  the  importance  of  the 
occasion,  and  of  your  expectations. 

The  prayer,  contained  in  the  text,  for  the  peace  and 
prosperity  of  Zion,  considered  in  reference  to  our  own 
Church,  naturally  leads  us  to  consider  the  rneans  b}" 
which  her  peace  and  prosperity  may  be  promoted;  or, 
in  other  words,  the  particular  duties  incumbent  on  her 
clergy  and  people.  The  general  duties  of  the  ministry 
have  been  frequently,  on  these  occasions,  displayed  by 
one  *  whose  voice  is  never  heard  but  with  feelings  of 
the  highest  veneration  and  atfection. 

It  has  occurred  to  me,  therefore,  that  I  cannot  at 
this  time  more  profitably  engage  you  than  by  calling 
your  attention  to  the  origin ^  the  general  character y  and 
the  present  circumstances  of  our  Church,  with  a  view 
thence  to  deduce  the  peculiar  duties  incumbent  on  her 
clergy  and  people. 

The  peculiar  duties  incumbent  on  the  Clergy  and 
Laity  of  our  Churchy  from  a  consideration  of 

Her  Origin, 

Her  general  Character ,  and 

Yicv  prcscjit  Situation^  shall  be  the  subject  of  this 
discourse. 

Your  preacher  is  aware  that  he  enters  upon  the 
most  important,  the  most  interesting,  and  the  most  deli- 
cate topics.  Yet,  if  the  utmost  purity  of  intention,  regu- 

•   lU .  Rev.  Bishop  White,  of  Pennsylvania. 


iated  by  a  supreme  desire  to  promote  the  weliarc  ol 
a  Church,  which  maintains,  as  he  believes,  the  faith,  the 
order,  and  the  worship,  of  the  Gospel,  in  their  primitive 
ititegrity  and  power, — if  such  purity  of  intention  can 
authorise  him  to  hope  for  the  divine  direction  and  bless- 
ing, and  for  your  candid  indulgence,  he  confidently 
trusts  he  shall  receive  them  both. 

He  almost  regrets  that  he  has  entered  on  this  field, 
because  he  perceives  that  it  is  so  extensive,  that  he  must 
demand  an  unreasonable  portion  of  your  time,  and  cal- 
culate largely  on  your  patience. 

I.  The  Origin  of  our  Church,  and  the  duties  thence  in- 
cumbent on  the  Clergy  and  Laity,  constitute  the  first 
topic  of  discussion. 

This  part  of  the  subject  naturally  divides  itself  into 
tht  generally  and  the  particular,  origin  of  our  Church. 

1.  Her  ge?ieral  origin  she  traces  back,  through  the 
uninterrupted  series  of  creeds,  of  the  ministry,  and  of 
ordinances,  to  the  only  source  of  spiritual  authority,  Je- 
sus Christ,  the  Lord  of  Heaven  and  earth,  and  the 
Head  over  all  things  to  his  Church.  If  there  are  any 
truths  that  speak  with  irresistible  force  from  almost  eve- 
ry page  of  the  New  Testament,  they  are — that  our  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  established  a  spiritual  soci- 
ety, with  officers  and  ordinances,  and  that  to  this  soci- 
ety he  committed  the  precious  deposit  of  the  faith — 
that  this  society,  he  redeems  by  his  blood,  sanctifies  by 
his  spirit,  and  while  he  governs  it  by  his  Almighty 
power,  presents  constantly  for  its  faithful  members  be- 
fqre  the  mercy  seat  of  Hesiven  his  prevailing  intercession 


— that  of  this  society,  stiled,  on  account  of  its  intimate 
relation  to  its  divine  founder,  and  union  with  him,  the 
body  of  Christ,  he  is  the  head  and  the  ruler,  the  source 
of  all  its  powers  and  authority — and  that  to  this  society, 
by  a  true  and  living  faith  and  through  the  instrumenta- 
lity of  its  ministry  and  ordinances,  must  be  added  all 
who,  according  to  God's  covenanted  mercies,  would  be 
saved.  Hear  these  truths  enforced  on  the  authority  of 
Christ  and  his  Apostles  in  tlie  declarations — "  Upon 
this  rock  I  will  build  7ny  Church^  ''  Christ  is  the 
head  of  the  Church,  the  Saviour  of  the  body."  **  Christ 
also  loved  the  Church,  and  gave  himself  for  it."  '^  The 
Church  of  God  which  he  hath  purchased  with  his  own 
blood."  *'  The. Church  which  is  his  body,  the  fulness 
of  him  that  filleth  all  in  all."  ''  The  Church  of  the  Liv- 
ing  God,  the  pillar  and  the  ground  of  the  truth."  *'  The 
Lord  added  unto  tlie  Church  daily  such  as  should  be 
saved."  "  By  one  spirit  ye  are  all  baptised  into  one 
body."  *'  Ye  are  come  unto  Mount  Zion,  the  city  of 
the  Living  God." 

Of  this  universal  Church,  particular  Churches  lo- 
cated in  particular  districts  were  parts  or  members. 
Thus  we  read  of  the  Church  at  Antioch,  of  the  Church 
at  Corinth,  of  the  Church  of  the  Thessalonians,  of  the 
Church  at  Galatia,  of  the  seven  Churches  of  Asia.  And 
at  the  present  day,  it  must  be  obvious,  that  of  this  uni- 
versal Church,  each  particular  or  national  Church  is  a 
pure  and  vital  member,  in  proportion  as  it  possesses, 
in  their  integrity,  the  faith,  the  order,  and  the  ordinances 
derived  from  Christ  and  his  Apostles. 

Viewing  then  that  branch  of  the  universal  Church  to 
which  we  belong  as  a  pure  and  vital  member  of  the)?f> 


dyof  Christ,  we  are  bound  to  revere  her  as  a  spiritual  so- 
ciety of  divine  origin — not  an  engine  of  human  work- 
manship, to  be  employed  as  human  pohcy  and  human 
passions  may  dictate;  but  a  structure  formed  by  the 
hand  of  a  Divine  Architect,  which  is  to  be  an  holy  tem- 
ple unto  the  Lord,  in  which  souls  are  to  be  trained,  by 
the  grace  of  the  spirit  accompanying  the  word  and  the 
ordinances  duly  administered,  unto  glory  and  honour 
and  eternal  life — not  an  institution  resting  on  the  sandy 
basis  of  human  power,  and  supported  merely  by  the  ta- 
lents and  the  efforts  of  fallible  men;  but  a  spiritual  build- 
ing placed  on  the  foundation  of  the  Apostles  and  Pro- 
phets, Jesus  Christ  himself  being  the  chief  corner  stone; 
and  while  continuing  to  rest  on  this  rock  of  ages,  pro- 
tected against  the  gates  of  Hell  by  the  power  of  the 
Most  High — not  a  kingdom  which,  like  the  kingdoms 
of  this  world,  may  employ  against  the  violators  of  its 
laws  the  secular  arm^  the  terrors  of  pecuniary  loss,  and 
corporeal  sufferings;  but  a  kingdom  whose  punish- 
ments like  its  powers,  are  spiritual,  extending  only  to 
the  forfeiture  of  its  spiritual  privileges. 

Hence  also  result  the  most  important  lessons  both  to 
rulers  and  ruled — inculcating  on  the  former  the  mo- 
mentous truths,  that  the  power  committed  to  them  is  not 
to  be  employed  as  the  base  instrument  of  corrupt  am- 
bition, or  the  cruel  engine  of  vindictive  passions,  but 
like  the  divine  source  from  whence  it  emanates  to  ex- 
ert itself  for  the  reformation  and  the  salvation  of  the  ol>. 
jects  of  its  discipline;  that  those  who  hold  this  power, 
responsible  according  to  the  legitimate  provisions  of 
ecclesiastical  authority  to  the  tribunals  of  the  Church 
on  earth,  are  to  render  a  more  strict  and  awful  account 


10 

to  that  tribunal  whence  they  received  their  commission, 
and  to  wliich  they  offered  their  solemn  vows  of  fidelity 
to  the  prescriptions  of  the  Church,  and  of  being  **  so 
merciful  that  they  be  not  too  remiss,  and  so  ministering 
discipline,  that  they  forget  not  mercy" — inculcating  on 
the  ruled  the  equally  important  truths,  that  the  power 
of  the  Church,  exercised  according  to  legal  forms  and 
for  legitimate  ends,  is,  in  the  highest  sense,  the  ordi- 
nance of  God;  that  "  whatsoever  is  thus  bound  on 
earth  is  bound  in  Heaven,  and  whatsoever  is  thus 
loosed  on  earth  is  loosed  in  Heaven;"  and  that  they 
who  in  such  case  resist  fcannot  expect  a  penalty  less 
severe  than  that  which  is  denounced  by  an  inspired  Apos- 
tle against  unlawful  resistance  where  the  authority  is 
entirely  human,  and  the  ends  temporal  and  civil  for 
which  it  is  exercised. 

Lastly,  in  reference  to  the  divine  origin  of  our 
Church,  we  are  called  on  to  revere,  to  love,  to  obey  her 
as  Xh^  spouse  and  body  of  Christ,  In  this  view,  how  jea- 
lous should  we  be  of  her  honour;  how  tenacious  of  her 
purity;  how  tender  of  her  peace.  The  Redeemer  has 
placed  her  in  tlic  most  interesting  and  tender  relations 
to  him.  She  is  near  to  him  as  his  own  body.  She  is 
dear  to  him  as  the  most  precious  object  of  human  affec- 
tion. Blessed  Lord!  can  any  professing  Christian  thus 
regard  thy  Church  and  offend  her!  Can  any  who  bear 
thy  sacred  name,  sully  by  their  unholy  lives  the  purity 
of  thy  spouse!  Can  any,  through  selfish  and  unworthy 
passions,  introduce  disorder  and  division  intothy  Church, 
and  wound  thy  sacred  body!  Save  us,  we  beseech  thee, 
from  the  tremendous  guilt — save  us  from  the  horrible 
punishment  which  must  ensue. 


11 

Our  Church  then  traces  her  origin  to  that  Church 
which  was  founded  by  Christ  and  his  Apostles.  We  are 
now  led  to  consider, 

2.  The  particular  origin  of  our  Church — or  the  par- 
ticular Christian  communion  from  which  she  received 
that  apostolic  faith,  order,  and  worship,  which  constitute 
her  a  legitimate  member  of  the  body  of  Christ — and 
that  communion,  we  are  proud  to  boast,  is  the  Church  of 
England, 

Here  your  preacher  deems  it  necessary  to  guard 
against  misconception.  In  boasting  of  our  origin  from 
the  Church  of  England,  he  does  not  contemplate  her  as 
enriched  with  secular  wealth,  adorned  with  secular  ho- 
nours, or  defended  by  the  secular  arm.  Of  the  policy 
of  this  union  of  the  civil  and  ecclesiastical  authority,  so 
that  the  latter,  in  commutation  for  the  wealth  and  patron- 
age of  the  former,  relinquishes  a  portion  of  her  legitimate 
spiritual  powers,  and  is  in  danger  of  being  viewed 
as  the  mere  creature  of  human  institution,  and  of  being 
made  the  engine  of  state  policy,  there  have  been  sound 
churchmen,  even  of  her  own  communion,  who  have  en- 
tertained serious  doubts. 

Nor  is  the  Church  of  England  contemplated  in  con- 
nexion with  the  character  or  conduct  of  the  government 
or  nation  where  she  is  established,  concerning  which, 
wise  and  good  men,  and  within  the  knowledge  of  him 
who  addresses  you,  correct  and  exemplary  churchmen 
entertain  very  different  opinions;  and  your  preacher 
would  deprecate  as  unsound  in  principle  and  most  im- 
politic in  its  results,  any  connexion  of  our  Church,  as  a 
religious  communion,  with  the  principles  and  views  of 
political  parties. 


02 

Nor  docs  be  contemplate  the  Church  ot  England  in 
that  particular  organization  oF  her  government,  and 
those  local  ecclesiastical  aj^pendages  which  involve  no 
essential  principle  of  Church  order. 

But  in  boasting  of  our  origin  from  the  Church  of 
England,  he  views  her  merely  a^  a  spiritual  society  pos- 
sessing the  faith,  the  order,  and  the  worship  which  were 
the  characteristics  and  the  glory  of  the  primitive  ages 
of  the  Church. 

We  boast  then  of  our  origin  from  a  Church,  which, 
in  renouncing  the  despotic   claims  of  the  Church  of 
Rome,  tempered,  with  such  singular  felicity,  zeal  and 
ardour  with  prudence  and  moderation,  as  to  reject  the 
errors,  the  superstitions,  and  corruptions  of  that  Church; 
while  she  retained  the  primitive  faith,  order,  and  worship 
which  those  errors,  superstitions,  and  corruptions  had  de- 
based and  disfigured,  but  with  which  they  were  so  inti- 
mately mingled  as  to  render  the  separation  a  work  of  ex- 
treme difficulty  and  imminent  hazard.  We  boast  of  our 
origin  from  a  Church  which,  in  reference  to  the  sound- 
ness of  her  principles,  the  talents  and  piety  of  her  clergy 
and  her  cttbrts  in  the  cause  of  the  reformation,  still  main- 
tains the  proud  title  which  at  the  first  she  acquired  of  be- 
ing Xht  glory  of  the  reformed  Churches — A  Church  which 
Cranmer  and  Latimer  and  Ridley  enriched  by  their  blood; 
in  whose  cause  Chillingworth  and  Hooker  and  Horseley 
exerted  the  strongest  powers  of  intellect  and  employed 
the  most  varied  and  profound  erudition;  which  BaiTOW 
and  Tillotson  anel  Porteus  honoured  by  their  eloquence; 
in  which  Andrews,  and  Taylor  and  Home  displayed  the 
lustre  of  a  fervent  piety — a  Church,  which,  shaking  off 
the  infirmities,  the  lukcwarmness,  and  the  weaknesses,  of 


13 

old  age,  now  comes  forth  in  the  vigour,  and  the  freshness 
of  apostolic  youth,  to  carry  the  cross  of  the  Saviour,  that 
pledge  of  salvation,  to  the  strong  holds  of  pagan  power; 
and  to  illuminate,  with  the  light  of  Scriptural  truth,  the 
regions  where  error  and  superstition  have  held  their 
reign. 

From  such  a  Church  we  boast  our  origin.  Church 
of  our  fathers!  thou  hast  our  veneration,  our  affection, 
our  prayers — "  Peace  be  within  thy  walls,  and  prosperity 
within  thy  palaces."  Elevated  is  the  ground  on  the  hill 
of  Zion  to  which  thou  art  exalted.  We  behold  those 
who  have  been  arrayed  in  hostility  against  thee,  won  by 
thy  disinterested,  thy  noble,  thy  apostolic  zeal,  laying 
their  weapons  at  thy  feet;  and  honouring  thee  as  the  first 
of  the  Churches  of  Christendom;  as  the  leader  of  Chris- 
tendom in  the  glorious  work  of  bringing  into  the  fold 
of  the  Redeemer  the  dispersed  of  Israel  with  the  fulness 
of  the  Gentiles,  and  of  ushering  in  those  blissful  days 
when  "from  the  rising  of  the  sun  unto  the  going  down 
of  the  same  God's  name  shall  be  great  among  the  Gen- 
tiles; and  in  every  place  incense  shall  be  offered  unto  his 
name,  and  a  pure  offering;  for  my  name  shall  be  great 
among  the  heathen,  saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts." 

My  brethren,  we  honour  ourselves,  when  we  dis- 
charge the  debt  of  gratitude,  by  acknowledging  in  the 
words  of  the  preface  to  the  book  of  Common  Prayer, 
that,  "  to  the  Church  of  England,  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church  in  these  states  is  indebted,  under  God, 
for  her  first  foundation  and  a  long  continuance  of  nurs- 
ing care,  and  protection." 

And  while  we  discharge  the  debt  of  gratitude,  it  is 
our  duty  to  show  the  sincerity  of  the  tribute,  by  iideiity 


14 

to  the  principles  of  the  Qiurch  from  which  we  arc  de- 
scended; so  far  as  those  principles  maintain  primitive 
faith  order  and  worship  distinct  from  secular  influence 
and  local  arrangements. 

The  field  before  me  is  so  extensive  that  I  must  has- 
ten to  a  brief  view  of  the  second  division  of  my  dis- 
course, which  was  to  contemplate  our  Church  in 

II.  Her  general  character^  and  to  point  out  some  of  the 
duties  of  her  clergy  and  people  thence  resulting. 

The  general  character  of  our  Church  may  be  ascer- 
tained by  a  view  of  some  prominent  features  in  her 
doctrine^  order,  and  worship. 

1.  Her  whole  system  of  doctrine  is  founded  on  the 
truth  of  the  defection  of  man  from  original  righteous- 
ness, so  that  without  God's  preventing  grace  he  is  dis- 
posed to  evil  and  impotent  to  good:  at  the  same  time  the 
Church  no  wMere  declares  the  accountableness  of  man 
for  any  but  actual  transgressions  committed  against 
grace  received;  or  the  total  absence  of  all  good  propen- 
sities in  his  nature;  though  she  undoubtedly  maintains 
that  there  can  be  no  principle  in  man  called  into  holy 
operation  but  by  the  pre%'enting  and  sanctifying  power 
of  the  Spirit  of  God. 

On  the  corruption  of  human  nature  and  the  guilt  of 
man,  our  Church  founds  the  necessity  of  a  Mediator — 
for  through  a  Mediator  it  hath  pleased  God  to  conduct 
his  dispensation  of  mercy — a  Mediator,  man  indeed 
that  he  might  obey  the  law,  the  violated  authority  of 
which  was  to  be  vindicated,  and  sustaining  its  penal- 
ties, ward  them  off  from  the  guilt}'  offenders — ma7i  in- 


15 

deed,  that  he  might  be  touched  with  a  feeling  for  our  in- 
firmities, and  knowing  how  to  pity  and  to  succour 
us  embolden  us  to  come  unto  God  through  him — 
but  also  a  Mediator,  the  Son  of  God,  whom  the 
Almighty  Father  would  view  with  complacency,  whose 
atonement  he  would  accept  as  of  infinite  value,  and 
whose  intercession  would  be  all  prevailing.  The  doc- 
trine of  a  Divine  Mediator  our  Church  sets  forth  most 
prominently  in  her  Articles  and  Creeds,  and  explains 
and  guards  with  every  variety  of  expression — and  it  is 
his  mediation,  his  merits,  his  intercession,  which,  ani- 
mating all  her  prayers,  her  collects  and  services,  make 
them  the  source  of  comfort,  of  peace,  and  of  exultation 
to  the  penitent  soul. 

The  redemption,  effected  by  the  sufferings  and  death 
of  this  Mediator,  who,  in  the  language  of  Scripture  is 
"  the  Saviour  of  all  men,  especially  of  them  that  be- 
lieve," our  Church  extends  to  all  mankind;  making  salva- 
tion possible  through  his  merits  to  those,  who,  desti- 
tute of  Gospel  light,  follow  the  dictates  of  conscience 
and  the  secret  monitions  of  the  divine  spirit,  as  well  as 
to  those  actual  believers,  to  whom  the  blessings  of  the 
atonement  are  visibly  signed  and  sealed  by  the  word, 
the  ministry  and  ordinances.  These  are  the  explicit 
declarations  of  our  Church — "  The  offering  of  Christ 
once  made  is  that  perfect  redemption,  propitiation  and 
satisfaction  for  all  the  sins  of  the  whole  world,  both  ori- 
ginal and  actual."*  "  By  his  one  oblation  of  himself 
once  offered,  he  made  a  full,  perfect,  and  sufficient  sa- 
crifice, oblation  and  satisfaction  for  the  sins  of  the  whole 
world."! 

*  Art.  xxxi.  t  Communion  service. 


16 

The  principle,  by  the  operation  of  which  we  obtain 
a  vital  interest  in  the  merits  of  this  great  Mediator,  is 
faith,  **  Wholesome  and  very  full  of  comfort,"  in  the 
judgment  of  our  Church,  is  the  doctrine  "  that  we  are 
justified  by  faith  only.''*  For  it  is  faith  which  sends  us 
as  guilty  and  perishing  sinners,  grieved  with  our  sins 
and  bowed  down  under  their  burden,  to  Christ  for  rest 
and  deliverance.  It  is  faith  which  places  our  hopes  of 
acceptance — not  on  our  tears;  they  cannot  wash  away 
the  stain  of  our  sins — not  on  our  repentance;  it  needs 
to  be  repented  of — not  on  our  works  of  righteousness; 
when  we  have  done  all,  we  are  unprofitable  servants — 
but  on  the  all-sufficient  merits  and  all-perfect  righte- 
ousness of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  through  whom,  who- 
soever Cometh  unto  God  shall  in  no  wise  be  cast  out. 
United  by  faith  to  Him,  we  have  an  anchor  of  the  soul 
that  will  secure  us  against  every  assault  of  the  adversary; 
we  have  an  hope,  that  even  in  the  day  that  shall  burn  as 
an  oven,  and  consume  every  false  dependence,  will  not 
make  us  ashamed,  but  will  animate  us  with  rejoicing  in 
the  Lord,  widi  joy  in  the  God  of  our  salvation. 
'*  Wholesome  and  very  full  of  comfort  is  the  doctrine 
that  we  are  justified  by  faidi."  Blessed  Saviour,  it  is 
faith  which  leads  us  to  thee! 

But  the  Church  knows  no  true  and  hvely,  no  justifying 
faith  which  does  not  produce  the  fruit  of  good  works. 
An  inspired  apostle  knew  no  j  ustifying  faith  which  did  not 
"  work  by  love  and  purify  the  heart  and  overcome  the 
world."  And  these  works,  which  are  the  fruitsof  atrueand 
lively  faith,  **  are  pleasing  and  acceptable  unto  God  in 
Christ. "    For  it  is  a  trutli  essentially  and  vitally  resulting 

*   Art.  xj. 


17 

from  his  perfections,  from  his  government,  from  the  re- 
lations of  man  to  him,  and  from  the  nature  of  the  hap- 
piness of  Heaven,  that  "  without  hoUness,  no  man  shall 
see  the  Lord." 

But  in  a  creature  so  dependent,  so  weak,  so  corrupt, 
and  so  exposed  to  temptation  as  man,  these  works  must 
be  wrought  by  divine  aid,  and  this  holiness  produced  in 
the  soul  by  the  power  of  divine  grace.  "  Wherefore," 
saith  our  Church,  "  we  have  no  power  to  do  good  works 
pleasant  and  acceptable  to  God,  without  the  grace  of 
God  by  Christ  preventing,"  going  before  "  us  that  we 
may  have  a  goodwill."* — But  our  Church  disclaiming 
the  doctrine  of  the  irresistibility  of  grace  which  destroys 
man's  free  agency,  subverts  the  nature  of  virtue,  and 
renders  man  an  unfit  subject  of  reward  and  punishment, 
declares  that  the  grace  of  God  works  **  with  us  when 
we  have  that  good  will."t  And  our  Church  disclaiming 
the  equally  injurious  and  unfounded  doctrine  of  the  in- 
defectibility  of  grace,  declares,  that  "  after  we  have  re- 
ceived grace  we  may  fall  into  sin,  and  by  the  grace  of 
God  may  arise  again  and  amend  our  lives. "f 

By  this  agency  of  the  divine  spirit  is  produced  the 
renovation  and  sanctification  of  the  heart,  which  the 
most  superficial  observer  must  acknowledge  is  a  doc- 
trine prominently  displayed  in  all  the  offices  and  servi- 
ces of  our  Church.  Inconsistent  indeed  would  she  be 
with  herself,  as  well  as  contradictory  to  Scripture,  if, 
while  she  maintains  with  emphasis  that  wc  are  "  born 
in  sin,"  that  "  there  is  no  health  in  us,"  that  "  the 
9esh  lusteth  against  the  spirit,"  that  we  are  ''  far  gone 

*  Article  xii.  t  Article  x.  1  Article  xvi. 


18 

from  original  righteousness,"  she,  at  the  same  time, 
should  fail  to  inculcate  the  necessity  of  the  renewing 
of  our  corrupt  natures  !)y  divine  power,  and  of  our  res- 
toration to  a  stat^  of  purity,  of  soundness,  of  evangelical 
riehtcousncss. 

On  this  subject  tlicre  is  a  remarkable  characteristic 
of  our  Church. — The  avo^^•al,  with  clearness  and  with 
force,  of  a  doctrine,  which  indeed  pervades  every  part 
of  her  system,  that  baptism  is  the  sacramental  com- 
mencement of  the  spiritual  life.  Infants,  w  ho  according 
to  the  terms  of  the  covenant,  to  the  declarations  and  prac- 
tice of  our  Saviour  and  his  apostles,  are  fit  subjects  of 
baptism,  are  made  in  this  sacrament  members  of  Christ, 
children  of  God,  and  heirs  of  the  kingdom  of  Heaven. 
To  adults  properly  qualified  by  repentance  and  faith, 
baptism  is  the  mean  and  the  pledge  of  the  same 
blessings.  And  even  adults  destitute  of  the  necessary- 
qualifications,  certainly  so  far  receive  in  this  ordinance 
a  proffer  on  the  part  of  God,  of  grace,  pardon,  and 
salvation,  as  to  leave  them  without  excuse,  and  to  in- 
crease their  guilt  and  their  condemnation,  if  they  do  not 
by  repentance  and  faith  secure  the  spiritual  blessings  sa- 
cramentally  offered  them.  This  important  change  of 
situation,  whereby  the  subjects  of  baptism  are  called 
into  a  state  of  salvation,  is  denominated  by  our  Church, 
in  the  language  of  Scripture  and  antiquity,  regeneration. 
But  if  any  persons  would  hence  assert  that  our  Church 
enforces  no  spiritual  change  but  what  takes  place  in 
baptism,  they  are  confuted  not  only  by  the  spirit  and 
the  language  of  all  her  institutions,  but  by  the  most 
explicit  declarations  of  the  office  of  baptism,  which 
pr^ys  for  those  who  are  baptised  that  "  the  old  Adam 
may  be  so  buried  that  the  new  man  may  be  raised  up  in 


19 

them,"  that  **  all  sinful  affections  may  die  in  them,  and  all 
things  belonging  to  the  spirit  may  live  and  grow  in 
them,"  that  "  they  may  have  power  and  strength  to  have 
victory  and  to  triumph  against  the  devil,  the  world,  and 
the  flesh;"  and  the  same  office  enforces  on  the  baptized 
person  the  duty  of  "dyingunto  sin  and  living  unto  righ- 
teousness, and  of  continually  mortifying  all  his  evil  and 
corrupt  affections,  and  daily  proceeding  in  all  virtue  and 
godliness  of  living."  To  pro^iote  and  effect  this  sanc- 
tification  of  the  soul,  there  are  provided  the  ordinance 
of  confirmation,  the  ministrations  of  the  word,  and  of 
the  sanctuary,  and  of  the  altar;  all  which  as  well  as  bap- 
tism will  only  be  unprofitable  and  condemning  to  the 
soul  without  the  exercise  of  deep  and  unfeigned  repen- 
tance, of  lively  faith,  of  watchfulness  and  prayer.  The 
"  washing  of  regeneration"  will  not  avail  to  salvation 
without  "  the  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost;"  and,  in  the 
language  of  the  Church  in  one  of  her  Collects,  they  who 
are  "  regenerate  and  made  God's  children  by  adoption 
and  grace,  must  daily  be  renewed  by  his  holy  spirit." 

This  succinct  view  of  the  prominent  doctrines  of  our 
Church  will  serve  I  trust  to  establish  her  claim  to  the  title 
of  evangelical,  in  the  scriptural,  the  primitive,  the  sober 
and  the  highest  sense  of  the  term — evangelical  as  pro- 
claiming to  all  mankind  not  a  nominal  but  a  real  Sa- 
viour; offering  to  all  the  means  of  an  interest  in  his  sal- 
vation. The  doctrines  of  the  Church  are  truly  the  doc- 
trines of  grace,  tracing  man's  redemption  to  the  love  of 
God,  who  appointed  for  him  a  divine  mediator,  his  on- 
ly begotten  Son;  exhibiting  the  merits  of  this  Saviour 
received  by  faith  as  the  only  ground  of  the  sinner's  ac- 
ceptance; directing  man  to  the  power  of  the  divine  spirit- 


20 

operating  not  with  resistless  force,  but  in  conbistcnc}' 
with  his  free  agency,  and  conveyed  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  the  sacraments,  and  the  ordinances  and  min- 
istrations of  the  sanctuary,  received  with  humble  peni- 
tence, faith  and  prayer — for  deliverance  from  the  bondage 
of  sin,  for  the  renovation  of  his  affections,  for  strength 
to  advance  with  increasing  vigour  in  the  divine  life, 
and  finally  to  attain  in  triumph  the  heavenly  glories  of 
his  calling. 

From  the  view  of  the  general  character  of  our  Church 
in  regard  to  doctrine,  there  results  the  duty  of  cherish- 
ing for  her  the  utmost  veneration,  the  liveliest  affection, 
and  the  most  steadfast  devotion  to  her  interests;  of  vin- 
dicating on  all  proper  occasions  her  evangelical  claims; 
and  above  all,  of  enforcing  these  claims  and  of  honour- 
ing and  adorning  her  by  imbibing  the  spirit,  and  dis- 
playing the  holy  influence  of  her  doctrines.  My  breth- 
ren of  the  laity!  it  will  constitute  an  awful  charge  against 
those  who  enjoy  the  pure  and  evangelical  doctrines  pro- 
fessed by  our  Church,  if  these  doctrines  should  not  in- 
fluence their  hearts  nor  regulate  their  life.  It  will  con- 
stitute no  inconsiderable  portion  of  that  guilt,  on  which 
at  the  last  day  the  judge  will  pronounce  the  sentence  of 
his  wrath,  that  by  their  lukewarm,  their  worldly,  their 
unholy  lives,  they  dishonoured  and  wounded  the  spouse 
and  body  of  Christ! 

My  clerical  brethren — if  such  be  the  guilt  of  an  un- 
godly layman  of  our  Church,  what  must  be  the  guilt  of 
an  ungodly  servant  of  her  altar;  of  one  who  to  the  holy 
vows  of  his  Christian  profession  has  superadded  the 
solemn  vows  of  devoting  to  his  Lord  in  the  ministry  of 
salvation,  his  soul,  body  and  spirit,  with  all  their  pow- 


21 

ersand  affections? — What  must  be  his  guilt,  if  this  man 
of  God  display  vices  which  would  point  even  at  the 
man  of  the  world  the  finger  of  scorn?  What  must  be 
his  guilt,  if  excited  by  the  most  powerful  motives  that 
can  operate  on  the  heart,  he  does  not  cultivate  and  ex- 
hibit every  Christian  grace,  and  discharge  every  Chris- 
tian duty.     My  brethren,  let  us  think  of  these  things. 

It  is  only  by  the  evidence  of  renovated  affections 
which  an  humble  and  holy  life  affords,  that  the  minister 
of  our  Church  can  be  faithful  to  her  doctrines,  and  to 
his  duty  of  inculcating  them.  All  mysteries  and  all 
knowledge,  the  tongue  of  an  angel  could  he  speak  with 
one,  while  his  unsanctiiied  life  discovers  that  his  know- 
ledge and  his  eloquence,  exert  no  influence  over  his 
own  heart,  will  fall  on  the  hearts  of  others  "  as  sound- 
ing brass,  or  a  tinkling  cymbal." 

By  his  private  and  his  public  instructions  must  the 
minister  of  our  Church  show  his  fidelity  to  her  doctrines. 
If  he  fail  thus  to  inculcate  them  with  diligence,  and 
with  prudent  but  ardent  zeal,  there  is  no  excuse  of  a 
worldly  or  even  of  a  literary  nature  that  can  shield  him 
from  the  guilt  of  violating  the  most  solemn  obligations. 
What,  my  brethren,  literary  or  worldly  occupations  ur- 
ged as  an  apology  for  neglecting  the  sheep  of  Christ 
which  he  bought  with  his  death,  and  for  whom  he  shed 
his  blood! — Urged  by  the  man,  to  whose  charge  they 
were  committed  by  the  great  Shepherd  of  the  sheep; 
and  who  promised  that  he  would  "  devote  himself  to 
this  one  thing,  and  draw  all  his  cares  and  studies  this 
way,"  that  he  would  be  "  diligent  in  the  studies  which 
help  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures,  laying  aside  as 
much  as  he  may  the  study  of  the  world  and  of  the  flesh!" 


-i2 

My  brelhrenl  let  us  read  our  duty  and  recal  to  mind 
our  vows  in  those  inimitable  offices  by  which  we  were 
bound  to  the  service  of  the  altar — And,  in  the  world,  in 
our  closets,  in  onr  supplications  at  the  throne  of  grace, 
let  us  remember  these  things! 

2.  It  is  a  distinguishing  excellence  of  the  worship 
of  our  Church,  to  which,  as  another  prominent  feature  in 
h^Y  general  character^  I  now  proceed  to  direct  your  at- 
tention, that  it  exhibits  the  whole  system  of  evangelical 
doctrine  with  unrivalled  clearness,  simplicity,  strength, 
and  pathos. 

That  our  Church  in  conducting  her  services  accord- 
ing to  a  prescribed  order,  has  conformed  to  the  practice 
of  the  ancient  Jewish  Church,  to  the  example  and  au- 
thority of  our  Lord  and  his  Apostles,  and  has  thus  also 
adopted  the  most  effectual  method  of  securing  a  ration- 
al, an  enlightened,  a  sober,  impressive,  and  dignified  de- 
votion, constitutes  without  doubt  one  of  her  great  ex- 
cellencies. 

But  a  still  higher  ground  of  boast  is  it,  and  on 
this  alone  your  time  will  permit  me  to  enlarge,  that  her 
services  exhibit  the  whole  system  of  evangelical  doc- 
trine with  unrivalled  simplicity,  strength,  and  pathos. 
They  unfold  all  the  exercises  of  the  penitent  and  be- 
lieving soul. — They  furnish  her  with  language  for  ut- 
tering all  her  emotions  in  her  communion  with  her 
God.  Does  she  wish  to  give  vent  to  the  feelings  of 
guilt? — "  I  am  grieved,  O  my  God,  with  the  remem- 
brance of  my  sins;  I  am  bowed  down  with  their  intole- 
rable burden."  Docs  she  seek  to  deprecate  tlie  wrath 
of  her  offended  Maker? — **  Enter  not  into  judgment 
with  thy  servant,  O  Lord,  who  am  vile  earth  and  a  mi- 


23 

serable  sinner."  "  Deal  not  with  me  according  to  my 
sins;  reward  me  not  according  to  my  iniquities."  Does 
she  wish  to  supplicate  his  mercy? — **  Spare  me,  Good 
Lord,  spare  me — have  mercy  upon  me,  have  mercy 
upon  me — for  thy  Son  Jesus  Christ's  sake  forgive  me 
all  that  is  past — After  the  multitude  of  thy  mercies 
look  upon  me,  through  the  merits  and  mediation  of 
thy  blessed  Son."  Does  she  seek  to  enjoy  the  conso- 
lations of  pardon? — "  Receive  and  comfort  me,  O  God, 
who  am  grieved  and  wearied  with  the  burden  of  my 
sins — Lamb  of  God  that  takest  away  the  sins  of  the 
world,  grant  me  thy  peace."  "  Almighty  God — make 
me  know  and  feel  that  there  is  none  other  name  under 
Heaven  given  to  man,  in  whom  and  through  whom  I 
can  receive  health  and  salvation,  but  only  the  name  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  Does  she  earnestly  desire  the 
sanctifying  and  consoling  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost? 
"  Cleanse  the  thoughts  of  my  heart,  O  God,  by  the  in- 
spiration of  thy  Holy  Spirit:  May  he  in  all  things  direct 
and  rule  my  heart;  that  by  Him  I  may  have  a  right 
ju-dgment  in  all  things,  and  evermore  rejoice  in  his 
holy  comfort."  Does  she  wish  to  love,  and  fear,  and 
serve  her  God? — *'  Make  me  to  have  a  perpetual  fear 
and  love  of  thy  holy  name- — nourish  me  with  all  good- 
ness, that  withstanding  the  temptations  of  the  world,  the 
flesh,  and  the  devil,  I  may  with  a  pure  heart  and  mind 
follow  thee,  the  only  God."  In  this  her  state  of  exile, 
does  she  pant  to  be  elevated  to  Heaven  her  eternal 
home? — "  O  God,  the  King  of  glory,  may  I  in  heart 
and  mind  ascend  to  the  same  place  whither  my  Saviour 
Christ  hath  gone  before,  and  there  continually  dwell 
where  thou  hast  prepared  unspeakable  joys  for  them 


24 

that  love  thcc."  Does  she  in  the  anxious  view  of  the 
regions  of  the  grave,  lift  her  soul  to  him  \vho  holds  the 
keys  of  death  and  Hell?  **  When  my  soul  is  departing 
the  body,  may  it  be  precious,  O  my  God,  in  thy  sight. 
Delivered  from  its  earthly  prison,  may  it  live  with  thee 
in  joy  and  felicity;  and  passing  through  the  grave  and 
gate  of  death  to  a  joyful  resurrection,  may  I  have  my 
perfect  consummation  and  bliss  both  in  body  and  soul 
in  thy  eternal  and  everlasting  glory." 

Now,  my  brethren,  imperfect  as  is  this  display,  I  ask 
you  with  confidence  to  pronounce  is  it  possible  for  piety 
short  of  that  which  warms  the  adoring  seraph,  is  it  pos- 
sible for  language  which  is  not  dictated  by  that  inspira- 
tion that  touched  the  lips  of  the  Prophet,  to  breathe  de- 
votion more  ardent  more  sublime  yet  more  chaste  and 
tender;  to  express  with  more  force  more  simplicity  or 
more  pathos,  the  precious  truths  and  promises  of  the 
Gospel*?  In  this  form  these  truths  and  promises  are  dai- 
ly presented  to  the  people,  and  carried  to  their  under- 
standing, their  hearts  and  affections.  The  liturgy  then 
preaches  with  an  eloquence  and  a  power  that  breathes 
in  no  uninspired  book,  that  animates  no  uninspired 
tongue.  The  liturgy  like  the  ark  of  the  covenant  pre- 
serves the  heavenly  law.  By  the  liturgy  was  the  flame  of 
divine  truth  kept  burning  amidst  the  darkness  and  the 
desolation  of  our  Zion.  It  is  an  invaluable  dcpositiu-y 
of  all  those  truths  which  constitute  the  gospel,  the  pow- 
er of  God  unto  salvation  ;  and  from  thence  the  servants 
of  the  sanctuary  may  display  them  in  primitive  lustre 
and  apostolic  power. 

If  these  things  be  so  brethren.  Clergy  and  Laity,  a 
question  occurs  in  the  view  of  your  preacher  deeply 


25 

important.  Shall  we  directly  or  indirectly  loosen  th,e 
hold  which  this  Liturgy  ought  to  have  on  the  affections 
of  our  people,  and  thus  prepare  the  way  for  the  gradual 
extinction  of  the  purest  source  ncKtto  the  Bible  of  di- 
vine truth,  and  celestial  devotion? 

Cold  indeed  must  be  that  heart  which  advocates  the 
liturgy  merely  because  the  Church  has  prescribed  it, 
venerable  as  is  her  authority;  which  makes  it  merely  the 
Shibboleth  of  a  sect;  which  while  it  denounces  the  least 
departure  from  its  prescriptions,  neither  glows  with  its 
iires,  nor  speaks  with  its  tongue.  The  Liturgy  com- 
mands our  veneration,  our  devoted  attachment,  as  the 
sacred  relick  of  apostolic  times,  as  the  precious  legacy 
which  martyrs  warmed  with  their  spirit  and  wrote  in 
their  blood;  as  the  prescription  of  the  Church  which  in 
this  case  speaks  with  an  authority  that  is  ratified  in 
Heaven— But,  I  repeat  it,  the  Liturgy  commands  our  ve- 
neration, our  devoted  attachment  still  more,  as,  next  to 
the  Bible,  the  purest  source  of  divine  truth  and  celestial 
devotion. 

The  question  then,  I  repeat  it  also,  is  deeply  impor- 
tant— Shall  we  directly  or  indirectly,  weaken  or  limit 
the  influence  of  this  invaluable  manual  of  truth  and 
piety?  It  would  be  an  insult  to  your  judgment  to  at- 
tempt to  prove,  that  aberrations  from  this  Liturgy  tend 
to  this  deplorable  result.  The  question  then  concern- 
ing these  aberrations  is  not  solely  a  question  concerning 
the  obligation  of  rubrics  and  ordination  vows;  but  a 
question  whether  we  shall  preserve  to  the  Church  this 
source  of  truth,  this  light  of  devotion.  The  evangelical 
excellence  of  our  public  service  is  not  its  security. 
Against  its  venerable  and  sober  forms,  the  spirit  of  en- 


20 

thusiabin  wages  irreconcilable  war;  and  it  will  Ix  ulti- 
mately  successful  if  the  Clergy,  the  appointed  guardi- 
ans of  tliis  liturgy,  voluntarily  surrender  any  of  its  holy 
devotions.  Where  individual  judgment  is  substituted 
for  public  authority,  aiid  where  private  fancy  moulds 
the  service  at  pleasure,  all  security  is  lost  for  its  preser- 
vation. Who  shall  direct  or  who  shall  restrain  where 
private  judgment  has  wrested  the  reins  from  public  law? 
What  part  of  the  service  is  secure,  when  the  almost  in- 
finitely varying  jnc!gments  of  men  arc  permitted  to  alter 
it?    How  long  will  it  retain  its  place  in  the  temple^  if 
when  the  members  of  our  Church  meet  for  social  wor- 
ship, they  substitute  for  the  daily  morning  and  evening 
prayer,  extempore  effusions,  or  even  premeditated  de- 
votions, necessarily  inferior  in  excellence  and  authority? 
If   07i€  should  omit    the  law  of  God    as  proclaimed 
in  its  awful  prescriptions  and  sanctions  by  Jehovah  him 
self,  on  Sinai's  mount,  what  shall  prevent  another  from 
withholding  those  sacred  services  which  exhibit  the 
cheering  consolations  of  Zion's  hill?   One  part  of  the 
service  may  be  omitted  for  one  reason,  and  another  part 
for  another.  The  part  omitted  by  one  constitutes,  in  the 
judgment  of  another,  the  brightest  feature  in  the  litur- 
gy. Omissions,  alterations,  additions  in  the  public  ser- 
vice, most  certainly  and  naturally  produce  the  impres- 
sion that  some  parts  of  it  are  defective,  others  imperfect, 
others  of  little  moment,  and  others  wholly  unnecessary. 
The  inevitable  result  is,  that  where  the  liturgy  is  vene- 
rated and  loved,  that  veneration  and  attachment  are 
weakened;  and  where  lukewarmncss  and  enthusiasm 
have  excited  an  aversion  to  the  liturgy,  that  aversion  is 
fortified  by  the  authority  even  of  its  guardians.    What 


27 

more  certain,  than  the  fatal  results  of  innovation.  Friends 
then  of  evangelical  truth!  Honest  advocates  of  vital  pie- 
ty— will  you  be  accessory  in  depriving  the  people  of  the 
pure  exhibition  of  this  truth  which  the  liturgy  contains, 
and  of  the  influence  of  the  ardent  spirit  of  piety  which 
animates  this  liturgy?  Friends  of  the  Church — will  ye 
extinguish  her  brightest  glory? 

To  preserve  then  this  liturgy,  it  is  essential  that 
both  clergy  and  people  adhere  to  it  as  prescribed  by 
the  wisdom,  the  piety,  and  the  authority  of  the  Church. 
But  let  both  clergy  and  people  remember  that  the  pos- 
session of  this  invaluable  blessing  will  only  tend  to  their 
condemnation,  if  they  do  not  unite  in  its  holy  devotions 
with  anfeigiied^ifepentance;  with  lively  faith  and  love; 
and  if  they  do  not  display  in  their  life  and  conversation 
the  humble,  the  pure,  and  the  heavenly  tempers  which, 
by  God's  blessing,  it  is  calculated  to  form  in  the  soul. 

3.  I  pass  from  the  worship  to  the  exhibition  of  an- 
other prominent  feature  of  our  Church,  her 

Apostolic  Ordery  under  the  strong  impression,  my 
brethren,  that  I  have  already  trespassed  onyour  patience, 
and  that  therefore  I  must  be  as  brief  as  possible. 

That  an  external  commission  as  well  as  an  internal 
call  of  the  spirit,  is  necessary  to  authorise  a  person  to 
minister  in  holy  things;  that  this  commission  must  be 
derived  from  the  head  of  the  Church  the  source  of  all 
power  in  it,  through  that  order  of  men  whom  he  ap- 
pointed successively  to  convey  it;  that  three  orders  of 
the  ministry  were  appointed  by  Christ  and  his  apostles, 
and  the  first  order  invested  with  the  power  of  commis- 
sioning to  the  ministry,  are  truths  founded  on  the  word 
of  God  and  supported  by  the  strongest  primitive  tes- 


28 

timony.  Whatever  variety  of  opinion  there  may  be 
concerning  the  terms  in  which  these  truths  may  be 
stated,  and  the  consequences  which  may  be  deduced 
from  them,  there  is  certainly  one  ground  on  which  all 
churcJimen  may  meet — the  ground  taken  in  her  articles 
and  offices  by  the  venerable  Church  from  which  we  are 
descended,  and  maintained  by  our  own.  Now  these  ar- 
ticles and  offices  declare  that  "it  is  not  lawful  for  any 
man  to  take  upon  him  the  office  of  public  preaching, 
or  ministering  the  sacraments  in  the  congregation,  be- 
fore he  be  lawfully  called  and  sent  to  execute  the 
same" — *  that  **God  by  his  divine  providence  and 
holy  spirit  instituted  divers  orders  of  ministers  in  his 
Church,"  that  "  from  the  apostles'  times  there  have 
been  these  orders  of  ministers  in  the  Church,  Bishops, 
Priests,  and  Deacons,"  that  the  bishop  alone  receives 
the  power  of  **  ordaining,  sending,  and  laying  hands  on 
others,"  and  that,  therefore,  **  no  man  shall  be  account- 
ed or  taken  to  be  a  lawful  bishop,  priest,  or  deacon  in 
this  Church,  or  suffered  to  execute  any  of  the  said 
functions,  except  he  hath  had  episcopal  consecration  or 
ordination. "II  This,  my  brethren,  is  no  new  language — 
these  are  not  the  effusions  of  sectarian  bigotry — they 
are  not  the  declarations  of  private  individuals.  They  are 
the  principles,  the  declarations,  the  language  of  the  ve- 
nerable Church  from  which  we  derive  our  immediate 
origin;  principles  which  at  the  period  of  the  reforma- 
tion she  restored  to  primitive  shape  and  form  and  laid 
at  the  foundation  of  her  polity;  principles,  in  her  attach- 

•  Article  xxiii. 

II  Prayers  in  the  Offices  of  Ordination,  and  tlic  Preface  to  those 
Offices. 


2^ 

ment  to  which,  a  rcvolutioii  that  for  a  while  subverted 
them,  served  more  to  confirm.  They  are  principles, 
which  no  difficulties,  not  even  the  apprehension  of  be- 
ing unable  to  carry  them  into  effect,  could  induce  our 
Church  to  relinquish;  and  for  which  her  wishes,  her 
prayers,  her  exertions  were  at  last  crowned  with  suc- 
cess. They  are  principles  w^hich  she  has  deliberately 
and  solemnly  laid  at  the  foundation  of  her  polity,  and 
which,  if  assailed  or  shaken,  the  whole  edifice  will  be 
endangered.  Against  these  fundamental  principles, 
sanctioned  by  the  wisdom  and  preserved  through  the 
changes  of  ages,  I  fear  not  that  any  innovating  hand  will 
be  lifted  up. 

These  principles  which  pre-eminently  entitle  our 
Church  to  the  character  of  an  Apostolic  Church,  it  is 
the  obvious  duty  of  both  clergy  and  people  to  revere, 
to  inculcate,  to  defend;  and  to  carry  into  full  effect  as  it 
respects  the  admission  to  the  ministry,  the  exercise  of 
discipline,  and  the  preservation  of  the  unity  of  the  church. 

But  let  no  person  be  guilty  of  the  gross  inconsis- 
tency and  criminality  of  insisting  on  the  means y  while 
he  is  indifferent  to  the  end.  The  salvation  of  souls,  the 
promotion  of  vital  practical  godliness  is  the  end  for 
which  the  order  of  the  Church  is  the  divinely  appointed 
means.  And  there  can  be  no  character  more  inconsist- 
ent, or  who  does  greater  injury  to  the  cause' which  he 
professes  to  advocate,  than  the  churchman,  whether  cler- 
gyman or  layman,  who  contends  with  zeal  for  the  order 
and  the  other  externals  of  the  church,  while  he  neglects 
or  undervalues  that  vital  godliness  and  evangelical 
piety  which  they  are  designed  to  cherish  and  to  pre- 
serve. 


30 

The  order  of  the  church  then  as  it  respects  the  con- 
stitution  of  the  ministry  is  apostolic  and  primitive.  In 
respect  to  her  government  properly  so  called,  the  forms 
by  which  she  exercises  her  legislative,  executive  and 
judiciary  powers,  there  are  a  few  pre-eminent  character- 
istics which  you  must  permit  me  merely  to  point  out. 

And  liere  we  first  recognise  the  important  principle 
involved  indeed  in  the  very  nature  of  all  good  govern- 
ment, that  all  orders  of  men  affected  by  the  laws  should 
have  a  voice  in  framing  them.  Accordingly,  no  act  in 
our  church,  not  necessarily  involving  a  point  of  divine 
institution,  has  the  force  of  law,  until  it  has  received  the 
sanction,  under  the  forms  of  the  constitution,  of  her 
bishops,  her  clergy,  and  laity. 

We  notice  also  the  conformity  of  our  ecclesiastical 
to  our  civil  constitutions,  in  the  division  ofpouer  in  the 
exercise  of  legislation;  the  bishops  of  the  church  consti- 
tuting one  house,  in  general  convention,  and  the  cleri- 
cal and  lay  deputies  another,  Vvith  co-ordinate  and  equal 
powers.  All  the  advantages  of  deliberation,  of  experi- 
ence, and  of  security  to  individual  rights,  of  which  by 
this  arrangement,  our  civil  constitutions  boast,  are  se- 
cured in  the  organization  of  our  church. 

We  notice  a  similar  conformity  and  further  excel- 
lence, in  the  unity  of  her  executive  head;  her  bishops 
being  vested  by  the  very  nature  of  their  office  with  the 
executive  authority — And  thus  are  secured  that  \  igour, 
that  decision,  that  promptness,  and  at  the  same  time 
that  responsibility,  and  of  course  that  fidelity,  Avhich  it 
would  be  impossible  to  secure  at  least  in  an  equal  de- 
gree, were  the  executive  power  of  our  church  entrust- 
'•d  to  large  and  popular  assemblies. 


31 

In  like  manner,  though  from  the  nature  of  his  of- 
lice,  the  bishop  is  the  ultimate  judiciary  tribunal,  yet 
he  can  inflict  no  public  censure  and  no  punishment  but 
in  the  due  course  of  law,  by  ^vhich  a  knowledge  of  the 
charges  against  him,  the  means  of  defence,  and  a  trial 
by  his  peers,  are  enjoyed  by  every  individual. 

Apart  then  from  the  divine  institution  of  the  ministry^ 
we  have  cause  of  boast  respecting  the  Order  of  our 
church,  that  it  exercises  the  powers  of  government 
agreeably  to  the  principles  of  right  and  justice,  and  of 
those  forms  of  civil  polity,  on  which  experience  has 
impressed  the  stamp  of  \visdom. 

The  exhibition  then  of  the  general  character  of  our 
church,  impresses  the  duty  of  the  most  devoted  attach- 
ment to  her.  Let  not  this  attachment,  best  expressed  by 
fidelity  to  all  her  principles,  be  branded  as  narrow  bi- 
gotry,  and  sectarian  zeal.  It  is  an  enlarged,  an  eleva- 
ted, a  noble  feeling;  excited  by  the  evangelical  spirit 
which  animates  all  the  public  confessions  and  formula- 
ries of  the  church,  and  l^y  the  apostolical  character 
which  distinguishes  her  ministry  and  ordinances.  It 
is  an  attachment  therefore  to  a  system  which,  exhibiting 
the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints  and  bearing  the 
stamp  of  apostolic  authority,  must  be  the  best  calcula- 
ted, if  its  advocates  and  professors  are  faithful  to  its 
principles,  to  extend  in  its  purity  the  kingdom  of  the 
Redeemer,  and  to  advance  most  effectually  the  salva- 
tion of  man. — Let  us  then  my  brethren,  with  united 
hearts  and  voices  and  in  the  fulness  of  affection,  offer 
for  our  Church  the  prayer — *'  Peace  be  within  thy 
Avails  and  prosperity  within  thy  palaces." 


32 

Under  the  influence  of  this  sentiment  let  us  proceed 
to  view  some  leading  circumstances  in 

III.  The  present  situation  of  our  Church,  and  the  duties 
thence  resulting. 

And  here  there  will  appear,  cause  both  for  sorrow 
and  for  congratulation. 

The  war  of  the  revolution  stripped  our  Church  of  a 
large  proportion  of  her  clergy,  of  many  of  her  influen- 
tial members,  and  of  the  nursing  care  and  protection  of 
the  venerable  society  for  propagating  the  Gospel  in  fo« 
reign  parts.  Her  congregations,  with  diminished  num- 
bers and  impoverished  means,  were  left  without  clerg)% 
and  destitute  for  many  years  of  the  episcopacy,  clergy 
were  not  to  be  obtained.  The  age  of  your  preacher  at  this 
period  does  not  enable  him  to  speak  from  personal 
knowledge;  but  judging  from  information,  he  appears 
warranted  in  expressing  the  opinion,  that  our  Church 
was  placed  in  circumstances  of  so  great  depression  and 
difficulty,  that  it  became  a  serious  question  whether  she 
would  be  able  to  preserve  the  characteristic  of  an  apos- 
tolical  Church,  episcopal  ordination.  While,  therefore, 
her  present  primitive  organization  claims  for  the  patience, 
the  prudence,  and  the  persevering  zeal  of  the  agents  in 
this  most  important  work  the  highest  praise  (may  their 
names  ever  be  held  in  grateful  remembrance)  her  pre- 
servation in  all  her  characteristic  features  may  be  traced 
to  the  protecting  presence  of  her  divine  head,  and  un- 
der him  to  her  evangelical  and  apostolical  character,  and 
to  her  inestimable  liturgy.  But  she  still  exhibits,  in 
many  places,  the  face  of  desolation.     The  clergy,  who 


on 


have  been  ordained  since  we  obtained  the  episcopacy, 
have  not  in  many  states  supplied  the  wants  even  of  the 
old  congregations.  Our  Church  in  many  places  mourns 
that  none  come  to  her  solemn  feasts,  because  there  are 
no  priests  to  make  the  celebration:  while  in  the  new  and 
extensive  districts  filled  by  the  increasing  population  of 
our  country,  the  members  of  our  Church  are  wander- 
ing as  sheep  having  no  shepherd,  and  either  joining 
other  folds,  or  mourning,  desolate  and  solitary,  their 
exile  from  their  Zion. 

Amidst  these  causes  of  sorrow,  it  is  a  subject  for 
congratulation,  that  our  people  are  awakening  to  a  sense 
of  the  duties  which  they  owe  to  their  Church,  to  the  ne- 
cessity of  making  provision  for  a  learned,  a  pious,  and 
laborious  ministry,  of  providing  for  their  support  in  the 
vineyard,  of  sending  missionaries  to  the  destitute  quar- 
ters of  our  Zion,  of  disseminating  information  in  the 
truths  of  religion,  and  the  distinctive  principles  of  our 
Church.  It  is  a  subject  of  congratulation  that  correct 
views  of  her  distinctive  principles  are  becoming  more 
prevalent;  that  her  worship,  overcoming  the  prejudices 
which  may  have  subsisted  against  it,  is  gradually  ex- 
erting its  evangelical  influence  on  the  hearts  of  her  mem- 
bers; that  the  preaching  of  the  doctrines  of  the  cross  is 
the  aim  of  her  clergy,  and  more  and  more  demanded  by 
her  people;  and  that  all  orders  among  us  seem  disposed 
and  desirous  to  cherish  the  spirit  of  Christian  love  and 
unity,  to  know  no  other  aim  but  the  glory  of  God,  the 
honour  of  the  Redeemer,  and  the  advancement  of  h^ 
kingdom;  and  to  these  glorious  objects  to  devote  t^^'r 
talents,  their  influence,  their  hearts. 

£ 


34 

It  is  incumbent  on  us,  my  clerical  and  lay  brethren 
of  this  convention,  standing  as  we  do  in  the  high  and 
responsible  station  of  the  general  council  of  our  Church, 
pre-eminently  to  display  these  divine  dispositions,  these 
harmonious  and  pious  views.  Happily  organized  as  our 
Church  is  in  her  doctrines,  her  worship,  and  her  disci- 
pline, and  entrusted,  as  her  supreme  officers  are,  with 
many  of  those  concerns,  which,  under  a  different  organ- 
ization, would  be  a  subject  of  popular  discussion  and 
determination;  our  principal  duty  at  these  ecclesiastical 
meetings  consists  in  obtaining  information  concerning 
the  state  of  our  Zion;  in  watching  over  her  principles, 
her  purity,  and  her  peace;  in  adapting,  but  with  a  cau- 
tious and  a  temperate  hand,  the  provisions  of  our  laws 
to  the  changing  exigencies  of  affairs;  and,  above  all,  it 
should  here  be  our  object,  as  in  the  presence  and  under 
the  influence  of  the  spirit  of  our  divine  Lord,  to  excite, 
to  cherish,  and  to  strengthen  our  mutual  zeal  in  his  ser- 
vice, in  the  cause  of  his  holy  religion,  and  in  the  ad- 
vancement  of  the  prosperity  of  his  spouse  and  body  the 
Church. 

Since  your  last  meeting  a  change  has  taken  place  in 
our  episcopal  body  by  the  removal  of  two  venerable 
brothers  from  their  duties  on  earth  to  their  rest  in  the 
Paradise  of  God.*  It  is  a  subject  of  congratulation, 
however,  on  the  present  occasion,  and  an  indication  of 
a  growhig  zeal  for  our  Church  that  the  present  ecclesi- 

stical  assembly  is  more   numerously  attended   than 
al.  The  difficulties  of  a  long  journey  have  not  pre- 

Yeii(^d  the  attendance  of  the  bishop  and  clerical  depu- 

•  RVJu  Reverend  Bishop  Jarvis  of  Connecticut,  und  the  Right 
Revcrem  Bish«p  Madison  of  Virguiih. 


35 

ties  from  the  distant  diocess  of  South  Carolina;  and  our 
hearts  are  cheered  by  the  presence,  long  earnestly  de- 
sired, of  a  deputation  from  the  Church  in  Virginia.  And 
it  is  particularly  a  subject  of  thankfulness  that  this  dio- 
cess, where  our  Zion  has  long  been  languishing,  and 
seemed  almost  extinct,  has  made  provision  for  filling 
the  episcopate  in  the  reverend  person*  whom  having 
presented  to  us  the  testimonials  required  by  the  canons 
we  shall  now  proceed  to  consecrate. 

But  little  more  than  half  a  century  has  elapsed  since 
our  Church  universally  prevailed  through  the  rich  and 
flourishing  dominion  of  Virginia.  In  every  county 
there  were  churches  and  chapels,  all  of  them  decent  and 
substantial,  some  of  them  even  splendid  in  their  deco- 
rations. In  those  temples  were  statedly  performed  all 
the  services  of  our  primitive  liturg)^  The  parishes,  not 
much  short  of  one  hundred,  were  all  supplied  with 
clergy.  What  is  the  contrast?  We  have  wept  over  it. 
Our  hearts  have  been  wrung  with  shame,  with  grief, 
that  this  contrast  has  been  produced,  not  entirely  (God 
forbid  we  should  sink  them  under  this  tremendous 
guilt)  but  in  no  inconsiderable  degree  by  many  of  the 
clergy  themselves.  What  is  the  contrast?  Few  are  the 
parishes  in  Virginia  which  enjoy  the  regular  ministra- 
tions of  a  clergyman.  In  many  places  the  liturgy  b 
scarcely  known,  but  as  some  antiquated  book  which 
was  once  used  by  their  fathers.  The  edifices,  vhere 
their  fathers  worshipped,  now  in  a  state  of  ruin,  nx  the 
astonished  gaze  and  excite  the  mournful  sip^  of  the 
passing  traveller;  and  in  those  courts  where  the  living 

*  The  Rev.  Richard  Channing  Mooro,  D.  P-  Rector  of  SV 
fetephen's  Church,  New-York. 


oo 


God  was  uncc  invoked  and  the  iiitsbaiics  ol  iulic)- 
through  liis  Son  proclaimed,  no  sounds  arc  heard  bmt 
the  screams  of  the  bird  of  night,  or  the  louings  of  the 
beasts  of  the  field.  It  was  not  possible  that  this  state  of 
things  could  long  continue.  Man  does  not  feel  himself 
safe  even  w'nh  his  fellow  man  loosened  from  the  re- 
straints of  religion — He  cannot  live  without  its  conso- 
lations— He  cannot  enter  on  futurity  without  its  hopes — 
The  night  of  adversity  has  passed,  and  the  morning,  I 
would  fain  hope,  of  a  long  and  splendid  day  is  dawning 
on  the  Church  in  Virgnia.  I  think  I  see  the  pledge  of 
this  in  the  attachment  to  our  Church  and  in  the  anxi- 
ous desire  to  serve  her  manifested  by  laymen  of  the 
highest  influence  and  talents,  and  by  a  few  zealous 
clergy.  They  have  combined,  and  they  have  resolved, 
under  God,  that  the  Church  in  Virginia  shall  not  perish. 
From  my  soul  I  revere  and  love  them  for  the  holy  re- 
solve. My  God!  in  this  remember  them  for  good. 

The  first  fruits  of  their  labours,  we  witness  this  day. 

To  counsel,  to  lead,  to  strengthen  them  in  their  ex- 
ertions; to  revi\e,  among  a  numerous  and  widely  ex- 
tended population,  the  spirit  of  piety i  to  make  known, 
valued  and  loved,  the  evangelical  and  primitive  institu- 
tions of  our  church;  to  make  these  institutions  and  ser- 
Vyces  under  God  the  instruments  of  bringing  again  the 
ouW\st  and  reclaimmg  the  lost,  of  conviction  and  con- 
version to  the  hinncr,  of  holiness  and  comfort  to  the 
saint,  Vi  the  work  of  imminent  dilftculty  and  hazard,  but 
I  trust,  \jv  God's  blessing,  of  success  and  honour,  to 
which  yotymy  reverend  brother,  will  be  called. 

I  owe  iV)ii  this  occasion  to  many  who  have  signed 
in  your  favoiri  the  solemn  testimonial  required  by  the 


canons,  and  I  owe  it  to  myself,  participatin,^  as  I  shall 
in  your  consecration,  to  state,  that  any  doubts  which 
might  have  existed  as  to  the  duty  and  the  expediency 
of  the  act  which  is  now  marked  with  perfect  unanimity, 
were  effectually  precluded  by  your  frank  and  explicit  and 
unsolicited  avowal  of  the  principle  which  should  in- 
flexibly guide  you  in  your  discharge  of  your  Episcopal 
functions.  That  principle  is  the  same  to  which* you 
will  now  in  the  most  solemn  manner  pledge  yourself  at 
the  altar,  of  conformity  to  the  doctrine,  discipline  and 
worship  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  Uni- 
ted States  of  America.  I  owe  it  to  you  to  declare  that 
in  relation  to  the  episcopate  of  Virginia  you  were  press- 
ed with  an  urgency  which  would  not  admit  of  a  refusal; 
and  that  your  whole  conduct  in  respect  to  it  has  been 
marked  by  a  frankness,  a  conciliation,  and  a  zeal  for  the 
interests  of  rchgion  and  the  Church  which  have  remove 
ed  every  difficulty  that  might  have  impeded  your  eleva 
tion  to  the  Episeopal  office.  We  shall  now  foUou 
you  to  your  arduous  station  with  our  best  wishes  and 
our  prayers.  It  must  be  apparent  that  you  make  no 
inconsiderable  sacrifice  of  personal  ease.  At  a  period 
of  life  when  you  must  have  begun  to  look  forward  to  a 
degree  of  rest  from  the  conflicts  of  active  duty,  you  are 
called  on  to  exchange,  the  comforts  of  your  native  city, 
and  the  attentions  of  a  congregation  warmly  attached 
to  you,  for  a  land  of  strangers,  and  for  the  difficulties  of 
a  depressed  and  extensive  diocess.  Still  in  the  labours 
of  the  field  on  which  you  enter,  you  will  meet,  we  trust, 
with  zealous  coadjutors  in  the  clergy  and  laity,  who  in  a 
manner  very  honourable  to  yourself  have  chosen  you 
^'-r  their  diocesan;  and  who  have,  by  this  act,  pledged 


38 

themselves  to  support  yon  in  the  fulfillment  of  your  con- 
secration vows  to  extend  and  to  maintain  the  doctrine, 
discipline  and  worship  of  our  Church.  Among  the  laity 
whose  talents  and  influence  will  be  called  to  your  aid,  I 
perceive  some  of  my  most  early  and  valued  friends. 
From  the  people  generally  among  whom  you  will  la- 
bour, you  will,  I  am  satisfied,  receive  every  kind  atten- 
tion that  can  tend  to  lessen  the  burden  of  your  cares. 
The  state  of  society  and  manners  among  those  with 
whom  your  future  life  is  to  be  passed  (I  speak  from 
some  degree  of  personal  knowledge)  needs  only  the 
purifying  and  elevating  influence  of  religion  to  be- 
come in  a  high  degree  interesting,  and  a  source  of 
personal  gratification.  But  you  must  look  beyond  all 
earthly  aids  and  consolations,  to  those  which  your 
Lord  and  Master  only  can  confer.  Should  the  spirit  of 
unfeigned  and  humble  piety,  regulated  and  cherished  by 
the  sound  doctrines,  the  primitive  order,  and  tiie  truly 
evangelical  service  and  institutions  of  our  Church  be 
revived  in  the  scene  of  your  future  labours,  with  what 
delight  shall  we  all  look  back  to  the  service  of  this  day! 
And  how  fervent  will  be  our  thanks  to  God,  who  hath 
made  you  the  instrument  of  this  great  good! 
To  his  holy  keeping  we  commend  yon. 


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